Title: Democratic Leader Should Apologize for Insulting National Guard ServiceDate: 03/18/2004Location: Washington, DCSpeechShow All Statements DEMOCRATIC LEADER SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR INSULTING NATIONAL GUARD SERVICE -- (House of Representatives - March 18, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bradley of New Hampshire). Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am profoundly disappointed in some of the rhetoric from Democrats in this election year debate. As we have all heard a few weeks ago, Terry McAullife, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said that President Bush had served in the National Guard but, quote, "never served in our military and our country," end of quote.

This is a double slander of the President and the National Guard. To imply that the National Guard is not a military service, Chairman McAullife dismisses the sacrifices of tens of thousands of National Guardsmen and women presently serving, and is a slap to the face of their service and their families.

As a retired National Guard member myself with 31 years service, with two sons in the Guard, one of whom was deployed to Iraq this week, America deserves an apology and the Democrats should find better leadership.

Terry McAullife's comments were wrong and they were offensive to me, my family, to the thousands of South Carolina National Guard members fighting in the war on terrorism today. Apparently Chairman McAullife is unaware of the distinguished history of the National Guard, which is America's oldest military service.

The South Carolina National Guard dates back over 300 years to 1670 when colonists united to defend their homeland against Spanish invasion. In fact, the valor of those early guardsmen has been enshrined in the South Carolina State flag when they defended the Carolina coast with a fort built of palmetto trees during the Revolutionary War.

Perhaps Mr. McAullife is simply unaware that guardsmen fought on the front lines of World War I, World War II, the Cold War, the war in Vietnam, the Korean War, the Gulf War, and now the war on terrorism. And on the morning of September 11, when we were not sure how many planes had been hijacked or how many sites had been targeted, the President ordered the Air National Guard to fly combat patrols over Washington, D.C. and New York.

Thank you to the Guard's 119th Fighter Wing whose F-16s defended the skies over Washington that morning and to the Air National Guard 102nd Fighter Wing whose F-15s rose to the defense of New York City. At a time of great peril and uncertainty they were America's first line of defense and we will never forget it.

Right now there are more than 193,000 National Guard members and reservists currently serving our country in the war on terror. They are steadfast servants to our country, who have given up their own civilian occupations and left their homes and families to ensure liberty for others. Some of these men and women are on the front lines who serve as the wedge between terrorism and freedom. They are serving our country.

I find Chairman McAuliffe's characterization insulting and demeaning. Terry McAuliffe disgraces himself and insults the National Guard by saying it is not military service. His baseless insinuation diminishes the National Guard as an institution, and he owes an apology to the guardsmen and -women in uniform serving our country and protecting their fellow Americans.

Chairman McAuliffe has a right to speak freely. But it is shameful that in one statement he dishonors some of America's bravest service members.

Chairman McAullife's comments represent the worst of election year politics. President Bush has been talking about the issues that matter to Americans: strong national defense, tax relief to promote job creation, and quality education for our children. Yet the Democratic leader has chosen to engage in personal partisan attacks and reckless comments that insult our men and women in uniform and the families supporting them.

It is a sad day for the Democratic Party whose leader publicly denounces, degrades, and dishonors a fighting force that at that moment is fighting for freedom and democracy and have devoted their lives to fighting terrorists around the world.

It is a time for truth. It is a time to raise the level of public debate in this country. It is a time for accountability. It is a time for honesty. It is past time for an apology, and it is time for the Democratic Party to find new leadership.

Mr. Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to offer, again, God bless our troops. We will never forget September 11.

3. I've read that very few members of the Guard were called to active duty during Vietnam

I think the entire National Guard suffered something like 100 casualties in the entire war. And when Bush was grounded from flying because he and his friend failed to present themselves for a physical examination, there was little chance at that point that he would ever serve in the active duty military.

Everywhere and everybody knew it. The selective memory of Republican Vietnam Vets in 2004 is putrid. They just hate. I don't know why but they just hate everything they're told to hate in order to be a red-blooded American. AKA white boy.

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